Culture

The legacy of the caricature

That the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the 2026 Academy Awards is going to be a serious tear-jerker was solidified by the passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry over two consecutive days.

The problem with Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

Nolan had all the tools for greatness. Instead, to my eternal frustration, his 'Odyssey' will always only be just alright.

‘One Night Only’ (2026) and the death of romance

Romance movies are, on the whole, my favourite movie genre. But good romance movies, like good romantic relationships, are hard to find, and easy to mess up.

Caught between grief and hope: ‘On Some Far Shore’ reviewed

Fresh off the back of 'Our House' and 'Macbeth', Cross Key Productions presents an original three-hander focused on the complexities of grief and young love.

Review: Mama

Emily Hislop looks at the horror genre's games of hide-and-seek, and asks why Mama fails as a figure of horror and suspense

Plight of the Screenwriter

Amy Lewin talks Screenwriting with William Nicholson

The Oscars: Who Gives a Sh*t?

Emily Hislop wonders what the purpose of all of this self-congratulation is, during one of the weirdest Oscar ceremonies yet.

Cooking with Poo

Nina Black examines some of the world's oddest book titles

Bye bye Baby

Ariel Gregory travels to the Pacifier Tree in Copenhagen

Preview: Phèdre

Chilled but intrigued, Georgina Wilson enjoys a stark production of Racine's classic

Focus on… Oxford Acapella

Nick Barstow talks to the Alternotives ahead of the Voice Festival UK

Fear of Flipping Burgers

Barney Norris talks about his upcoming play

Preview: Eight

JY Hoh is impressed by a production that has all the ingredients for success

Review: The Laramie Project

Verbatim theatre done impressively well, says James Gandhi

Review: The Cherry Orchard

Evie C. Ioannidi is pleasantly surprised at this Chekhov production

On your marks, get sets… watch!

Alexandra Sutton asks why the box set remains so popular in the age of the internet

Review: Black Mirror

Huw Fullerton thoroughly enjoys this neat sci-fi fable, the first episode of Brooker's new series

Review: This is 40

Not All It's Knocked Up To Be: Rehanna Jones-Boutaleb reckons this comedy is too meandering to even be entertaining

If you liked… Star of Love by Crystal Fighters

Luke Barratt gives you the summer in the middle of February

Going Underground

Nina Black takes a look at the tube's largest ever commission

Review: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Push the Sky Away

Jack Chown admires the remarkable resilience of the ageing rocker

Review: Foals – Holy Fire

Gruffudd Owen enjoys Foals' firey baptism into a fresh sound

Interview: Stornoway

Jack Chown muses about music with Oxford's favourite zorbers

Interview: Rich Peppiatt

Alexia Millett talks to Rich Peppiatt, the man who made the Leveson Inquiry a laughing matter

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